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Unnamed (head of Kiwalik River)

Occurrence, Inactive

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Commodities and mineralogy

Main commodities Ag; Cu; Pb; Zn
Ore minerals argentiferous galena; chalcopyrite; sphalerite
Gangue minerals carbonates; quartz

Geographic location

Quadrangle map, 1:250,000-scale CA
Quadrangle map, 1:63,360-scale B-5
Latitude 65.46
Longitude -161.31
Nearby scientific data Find additional scientific data near this location
Location and accuracy The occurrence is at an elevation of about 1,000 feet on upper Kiwalik River. The site is in section 26, T. 1 N., R. 13 W., of the Kateel River Meridian. Cobb, 1972 (MF 389), location 12, and Miller and Elliott (1969), sample location 35, figure 2.

Geologic setting

Geologic description

This occurrence is located adjacent to the mid-Cretaceous Quartz Creek pluton, a hook-shaped, quartz monzonite body. The pluton is surrounded by a N 15 W-trending alteration zone about 18 miles long and 2 to 5 miles wide. The alteration zone is in Jurassic-Cretaceous andesitic volcanic rocks, and is marked by carbonate-quartz replacement, and tourmaline. Fine-grained dikes of varying composition cut the andesites near the pluton. Dikes near the Quartz Creek pluton are locally mineralized. At this occurrence disseminated galena occurs in oxidized carbonate-quartz rock.
Analytical results from a composite grab sample were: 3 ppm Ag, 500 ppm Cu, greater than 2% Pb, and greater than 1% Zn (Miller and Elliott, 1969, number 35).
Geologic map unit (-161.312640784088, 65.4593266584117)
Mineral deposit model Sulfides in altered andesite.
Age of mineralization Mid-Cretaceous or younger.
Alteration of deposit Oxidation, carbonate replacement, and tourmaline.

Production and reserves

Workings or exploration The area has been mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey and examined by various exploration companies.
Indication of production None

Additional comments

This site is one of numerous occurrences of argentiferous galena, sphalerite, pyrite, and arsenopyrite in an 18-mile-long, 2- to 5-mile-wide zone of altered andesite surrounding the Quartz Creek quartz monzonite pluton. The altered zone trends N 15 W, across the drainage basins of Quartz Creek and the Kiwalik River.

References

MRDS Number A013488

References

Cobb, E.H., 1972, Metallic mineral resources map of the Candle Quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-389, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.
Cobb, E.H., 1976, Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Candle, Holy Cross, Norton Bay, Nulato, and Unalakleet quadrangles, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 76-866, 102 p.
Miller, T.P., and Elliott, R.L., 1969, Metalliferous deposits near Granite Mountain, eastern Seward Peninsula, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 614, 19 p.
Reporters Anita Williams (Anchorage, AK)
Last report date 1/12/2000